Morphological Investigations of the Effect of Thermal Manipulation During Embryogenesis on Body Performance and Structure of Pectoral and Thigh Muscle of Ross Broiler Chicken

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the optimum timing of thermal manipulation during early, mid, late and long lasting embryogenesis that may result in improvement of body performance and myofiber development (fiber diameter and thickness of perimysium) of pectoral and thigh muscles by a comparative morphometrical investigation on post-hatch day 35. 1440 fertile Ross broiler eggs were divided randomly and equally into 5 treatment groups: control (no TM), TM1, TM2 TM3 and TM4 were thermally subjected to 39ºC for 18h with 65% relative humidity daily during embryonic days ED 7-11, E...